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A hybrid conditioning styler that absorbs instantly tohydrate and smooth hair. Our exclusive blend of oilsand marine botanicals including Carageen (RedAlgae) adds shine and style definition.sales go to women-run businesses, to supportcommunities that supply ingredients for ourproducts, or to support the Sofi TuckerFoundation.We founded Community Commerce to supportthese communities, especially those that sourceand make some of the key ingredients inSheaMoisture products. We help fund trainingand infrastructure to help them manufacturetheir own high quality goods in their owncountries, and get fair prices for their goods andlabor. This helps them to earn a better livingand support their families, making a better lifepossible within their communities.It's not a donation. It's an investment in a fairerworld.

* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

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Our Story Sofi Tucker started selling Shea Nuts
at the village market in Bonthe, Sierra Leone in 1912. By age 19, the widowed mother of four was selling Shea Butter, African Black Soap and her homemade hair and skin preparations ...

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This scientific independent research is provided by Aisle7 and is for informational use only. GNC provides this information as a service but does not endorse it. Likewise, Aisle7 does not recommend or endorse any specific products.

B Vitamins Protect Aging Brains

B vitamins are needed to break down homocysteine, a risk factor for brain atrophy and Alzheimer's disease

Research suggests B vitamins may help lower homocysteine levels, possibly offsetting further decline in people with mild thinking (cognitive) impairment and preventing progression to more serious forms of dementia.

The brain loses some of its mass with age, even in otherwise healthy people. This progressive "brain atrophy" is more pronounced in people with mild cognitive impairment that doesn't interfere with normal functioning, but is characterized by some problems related to memory, thinking, language, and judgment. Brain atrophy is much accelerated in people with advanced dementia, like that seen in Alzheimer's disease.

The homocysteine connection

Higher blood levels of homocysteine, a toxic byproduct of an amino acid, is one risk factor for brain atrophy and Alzheimer's disease. B vitamins are needed to break down homocysteine, so it's been suggested that if they help lower homocysteine levels, they might also be able to slow the rate of brain atrophy.

The study, which was published in the journal, PLoS ONE, involved 168 people over 70 years old with mild cognitive impairment. The participants were given 0.8 mg folic acid, 0.5 mg vitamin B12, and 20 mg vitamin B6 or placebo every day for 24 months. At the beginning of the study and after two years, MRIs of their brains assessed changes in brain mass.

Blood levels of homocysteine dropped by 23% in the people taking B vitamins, and the rate of brain atrophy per year was almost 30% lower in the B-vitamin group than in the placebo group at the end of the study.

"It is tempting to suggest that this finding is consistent with the view that raised homocysteine is a direct cause of atrophy," the authors commented. "However, it does not exclude that homocysteine is only a marker for low-normal levels of the vitamins, which are themselves the causal factors."

Tips for top brain function

Try these tips to keep your brain going strong.

Use it or lose it. Studies have shown that staying mentally active is vital to keeping brain synapses healthy. Try learning a new instrument or craft, and branch out with different kinds of brain-teaser games.

Move your body. Physical exercise is just as important as the mental kind when it comes to preserving healthy brain function. Aim for at least 30 minutes on most days of the week. Intense exercise is best, but you'll still reap benefits just from walking.

Eat your way there. Blueberries, wild salmon, and nuts and seeds all provide essential nutrients that have been shown to help preserve healthy brain function. Keeping your heart healthy with foods like whole grains, legumes, olive oil, and avocados has the added benefit of improving circulation to the brain.

Take a multivitamin. Many comprehensive multivitamins contain B vitamins in the dosages used in the study. Always talk to your doctor before starting a new medication or supplement.

(PLoS ONE 5:e12244.doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0012244)

Kimberly Beauchamp, ND, earned her bachelor's degree from the University of Rhode Island and her Doctorate of Naturopathic Medicine from Bastyr University in Kenmore, WA. She cofounded South County Naturopaths in Wakefield, RI, and now sees patients in East Greenwich and Wakefield. Inspired by her passion for healthful eating and her own young daughters, Dr. Beauchamp is currently writing a book about optimizing children's health through better nutrition.